Identifier: newenglandmagaziv37bost (find matches)
Title: The New England magazine
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors:
Subjects:
Publisher: Boston : (New England Magazine Co.)
Contributing Library: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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ts. In the Senate seatsare obtained by the simple process of Sen-ators putting down their names in the littlered book of the assistant sergeant-at-armsfor whatever seats they think may becomevacant. The rule of first come, first served,is strictly carried out, and the entries demon-strate that Senators are very much impressedwith the truth of the adage that the earlybird catches the worm. The occupants ofthe most desirable seats are often surprisedto learn from these advance applications forseats how their colleagues regard theirchances of dying or being defeated in thenear future. In the House of Representatives the mem-bers at the opening of each new Congresschoose their seats by a little game of blind-mans buff. When the Speaker and otherofficers of the House have been sworn in, themembers are required to crowd in the spacesbehind the brass railings in the rear of thechamber. A blindfolded page draws out ofa box a white ivory ball and calls out the MEN AND AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON 45i
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Hi Rev. H. N. Couden, Chaplain of theHouse of Representatives number upon it. The reading-clerk thenannounces the name of the member whosenumber, the names being arranged alpha-betically on a tally-sheet, corresponds withthat on the ivory ball, and the member sonamed selects any seat he chooses in theHouse, the process being continued untilall names have been drawn. According tothe time-honored custom, the father of theHouse, the ranking member of the minor-ity, and one or two other veterans are shownthe courtesy of being allowed to choosetheir own seats, this being accomplishedby permitting those who draw lucky num-bers to relinquish their privilege. Their in-tention to give way to their superiors theyindicate by placing their hats upon thedesks, they themselves taking whateverseats are left after the drawing is otherwiseconcluded. Republicans, of course, takeseats on the left side of the aisle, and theDemocrats on the right, so long as they holdout, and after that the overflow, whic

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